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One who commences a personal action or suit to obtain a remedy for an injury to his rights; -- opposed to Ant: defendant.

eir doings, God takes no account." Milton . -- A writ of account (Law), a writ which the plaintiff brings demanding that the defendant shall render his just account, or show good cause to the contrary; -- called also an action of account. Cowell.

One who institutes a suit; plaintiff or complainant.

To defeat or evade; to invalidate. Thus, in a replication, the plaintiff may deny the defendant's plea, or confess it, and avoid it by stating new matter. Blackstone.

A special plea constituting a sufficient answer to plaintiff's action.

the price of each. -- Bill of particulars (Law), a detailed statement of the items of a plaintiff's demand in an action, or of the defendant's set-off. -- Bill of rights, a summary of rights and privileges claimed by a people. Such was the declaration presented by the Lords and Commons of England to the Prince and P…

olute; downright; unmixed; as, blank terror. Blank bar (Law), a plea put in to oblige the plaintiff in an action of trespass to assign the certain place where the trespass was committed; -- called also common bar. -- Blank cartridge, a cartridge containing no ball. -- Blank deed. See Deed. -- Blank door, or Blank wi…

One who ackowledged the right of the plaintiff or cognizee in a fine; the defendant. Blackstone.

An instrument in writting whereby a defendant in an action acknowledges a plaintiff's demand to be just. Mozley & W.

An apparent right; as where the defendant in trespass gave to the plaintiff an appearance of title, by stating his title specially, thus removing the cause from the jury to the court. Blackstone.

The party suing in equity, answering to the plaintiff at common law. He shall forfeit one moiety to the use of the town, and the other moiety to the use of the complainant. Statutes of Mass.

A formal statement of the plaintiff's case in court; in a more technical and correct sense, a particular allegation or charge in a declaration or indictment, separately setting forth the cause of action or prosecution. Wharton.

A bill brought by a defendant, in an equity or chancery suit, against the plaintiff, respecting the matter in question in that suit. Bouvier.

That part of the process in which the plaintiff sets forth in order and at large his cause of complaint; the narration of the plaintiff's case containing the count, or counts. See Count, n., 3. Declaration of Independence. (Amer. Hist.) See under Independence. -- Declaration of rights. (Eng. Hist) See Bill of rights,…

To state the plaintiff's cause of action at law in a legal form; as, the plaintiff declares in trespass.

To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to (the suit, or the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as a claim at law; to contest, as a suit. Burrill.

A person required to make answer in an action or suit; -- opposed to plaintiff. Abbott.

The defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff's action.

One who demands; the plaintiff in a real action; any plaintiff.

The termination of an action in practice by the voluntary act of the plaintiff; an entry on the record that the plaintiff discontinues his action.